Steering problems 78 DANA 44 into a 69 F100

[stldesign]

Who makes a dropped pitman arm for a 1969 f100.

Has coils spring and radius arms.

[basketcase0302]

If you can't find one listed for the 69' try over on the EB sites. I'd be willing to bet that the splines and angle would be close enough on the early Bronco to work on the truck also. James Duff / Jeff's Bronco / Wild Horses to start.

[cep62]

I'm jumping to conclusions , but
If you want a drop arm you have a lift kit , for big tires, that turn hard.

You might want to get a power steering box for a "78-"79 F150 and adapt it ,then get a readily available drop arm.

[stldesign]

I converted to a 1978 dana 44 front axle and the geometry of the drag link vs the track bar is wrong i think will post pics asap

[cep62]

Did you use the '78 track bar?

Do you have 4 inch lift (or taller) coil springs ?

[basketcase0302]

stldesign » Tue Jun 21, 2016 8:59 pm

I converted to a 1978 dana 44 front axle and the geometry of the drag link vs the track bar is wrong i think will post pics asap

You will have to change the tie rods and drag link assembly to the 78 era. Also recommend using an adjustable tracking arm-they are the "cat's meow" to correct tracking issues like typically caused by axle swaps and lift kits.
http://www.superlift.com/adjustable-fro ... AucA8P8HAQ

[stldesign]

I changed the title of this post

I originally thought I need a dropped pitman arm. But now I see I have other problems.

This photo shows my new 78 dana 44 with the 69 steering parts. Notice the angles are all wrong,

The picture with the red tape is the location of the 78 steering setup.

I cant use the 78 drag link because its way too long.

Id like to split it like the bronco guys do and mount it under the pitman arm which would require reaming it from the bottom.

Anybody done this swap and kept their stock steering box?

[cep62]

OK I just looked at my "71 that I converted a long time ago and my '78 Bronco.
I think you need the '78-9 pitman arm .
I think it'll bolt up to the stock gear box, I ran mine that way until I switched to power.
The tie rod mounts from the bottom.
You need the 78-9 pan hard bar (diagonal bar that locates the axle) , Yours is straight ,the correct on has a bend by the axle.
Then the correct 78-9 drag link will then fit and make sense.

You DO NOT want the split "Y" type from the '76-7 they did away with that because of bump steer issues.
(Have you ever experienced "death wobble" ?)

[cep62]

I re read one of your old posts, you stated you had the "78-9 track bar, and it hit the frame.
in your picture it's straight by the axle , maybe you have it flipped around.?

[stldesign]

I got an adjustable track bar but had to use a 78/79 frame mount, The hole is slightly lower than a 69 mount.

Couldn't find a 69 track bar any where it has an offset pivot to clear frame at the frame mount.

The tie rod mounts from the top.

Nobody makes dropped or custom pitman arms for 67-72 f100s or at least I cant find one.

I would like to mount from bottom with all 78/79 parts but keep my 69 steering box.

[cep62]

I would like to mount from bottom with all 78/79 parts but keep my 69 steering box.

I did a "71 about 20 years ago, you should be able to do this with your '69.
(although you might want to upgrade to power some day.)

Couldn't find a 69 track bar any where it has an offset pivot to clear frame at the frame mount.

You cant use the old track bar you need a '76-79 bar. and the bend needs to be at at the axle.

[basketcase0302]

stldesign » Wed Jun 01, 2016 11:29 am

Who makes a dropped pitman arm for a 1969 f100.

Has coils spring and radius arms.
Last edited by stldesign on Tue Jul 12, 2016 12:12 am, edited 1 time in total.

My original answer to this was assuming you had power steering. As I believe the sector shafts are of different diameter, (the manual is about 3/4 the size of the power) I don't think you'll be able to mount a power steering drop pitman arm, (which is what's usually used to correct the too sharp of angles on the steering geometry).

cep62 » Wed Jul 13, 2016 7:47 pm

OK I just looked at my "71 that I converted a long time ago and my '78 Bronco.
I think you need the '78-9 pitman arm .
I think it'll bolt up to the stock gear box, I ran mine that way until I switched to power.
The tie rod mounts from the bottom.
You need the 78-9 pan hard bar (diagonal bar that locates the axle) , Yours is straight ,the correct on has a bend by the axle.
Then the correct 78-9 drag link will then fit and make sense.

You DO NOT want the split "Y" type from the '76-7 they did away with that because of bump steer issues.
(Have you ever experienced "death wobble" ?)

Umm the tracking bar is what locates the axle side to side, (that's why they make adjustable tracking bars is to "fine tune" the axle to align it to the rear axle. If you don't have one on that 71' and you have any lift on it-it probably "dog legs" down the road, (as viewed from a hundred yards behind it).

And yes the tie rods mount from the bottom into the steering arm, (with the nut on top of the steering arm) that'll fix half the geometry.
I have a 78'-79' power steering arm here that I could measure the inside splines on with my caliper. If you did the same with the non-power steering arm it might be a start to dropping the arm as I doubt you'd be able to steer it with that steep of an angle on the drag link, (the one that attaches the bottom tie rods to the steering arm).

[cep62]

Umm the tracking bar is what locates the axle side to side, (that's why they make adjustable tracking bars is to "fine tune" the axle to align it to the rear axle. If you don't have one on that 71' and you have any lift on it-it probably "dog legs" down the road, (as viewed from a hundred yards behind it).

Uh yeh, I know what it's for. My '71 doesn't have a lift I wanted disc brakes.
It's been about 20 years and I'm not sure what pitman arm I used before I switched to power steering, but I thought I had to swap it , maybe not.

The reason I think he has the track bar wrong is an earlier post about it hitting the frame, if it has the bend like a factory one ,and he might have it backward. His photos didn't show the top real clear.

There are also drop brackets for frame end of the bar, but thats not really fine tuning.

[stldesign]

The track bar frame mounts are much lower than the 79 track bar mount i'm using. The track bar shown is a superlift for 70s ford 4x4 trucks. I'm not sure why there is a bend on the axle end of the stock track bar. But this mounted right up. The stock 69 track bar pivot on the frame end is offset slightly so it is little above the bottom of the frame.

I,m thinking of two options.

One a tie rod over conversion which should be easy and cheap as i already have most the parts except the reamer and the tapered inserts.

The other is to mount the drag link from underneath pitman arm but I still may need to ream and use an tapered insert.

Going on vacation I'll get back to it in a few weeks need to get back on road!!!

[ok68crewcab]

You DO NOT want the split "Y" type from the '76-7 they did away with that because of bump steer issues.
(Have you ever experienced "death wobble" ?)

I definitely agree with this statement. Years ago I had a 76 F150 with the "Y" type and converted to the 78-79 setup after a couple of scary death wobble experiences.